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Umair Irfan

Umair Irfan

Former correspondent

    Latest articles by Umair Irfan

    Climate
    Southern California’s largest fire saw a massive surge over the weekendSouthern California’s largest fire saw a massive surge over the weekend
    Climate

    Fires have burned an area larger than New York City.

    By Umair Irfan
    Photos: Southern California is burning
    Climate

    Six major fires are still burning, including a new one that broke out Thursday in San Diego County.

    By Eliza Barclay and Umair Irfan
    Natural Disasters
    California’s wildfires are not “natural” — humans made them worse at every stepCalifornia’s wildfires are not “natural” — humans made them worse at every step
    Natural Disasters

    We fuel them. We build next to them. We ignite them.

    By Umair Irfan
    Climate
    Map: where Southern California’s massive blazes are burningMap: where Southern California’s massive blazes are burning
    Climate

    Several large fires are getting a boost from strong winds in densely populated counties in the region.

    By Umair Irfan and Javier Zarracina
    Climate
    Bitcoin’s price spike is driving an extraordinary surge in energy useBitcoin’s price spike is driving an extraordinary surge in energy use
    Climate

    Mining Bitcoins uses more electricity than entire countries.

    By Umair Irfan
    Climate
    Energy hog Google just bought enough renewables to power its operations for the yearEnergy hog Google just bought enough renewables to power its operations for the year
    Climate

    The company uses as much electricity as San Francisco.

    By Umair Irfan
    Climate
    Bali’s fiery volcano could end up temporarily cooling the entire planetBali’s fiery volcano could end up temporarily cooling the entire planet
    Climate

    But we don’t yet know by how much.

    By Umair Irfan
    Climate
    The international environmental treaty the Trump administration actually likesThe international environmental treaty the Trump administration actually likes
    Climate

    The White House backs the Montreal Protocol to protect the ozone layer, which has also been the best effort to fight global warming.

    By Umair Irfan
    Climate
    How Delhi became the most polluted city on EarthHow Delhi became the most polluted city on Earth
    Climate

    Breathing in the Indian capital this month was like smoking 50 cigarettes a day.

    By Umair Irfan
    Climate
    A mysterious radiation cloud spread over Europe in September. Russia finally acknowledged it.A mysterious radiation cloud spread over Europe in September. Russia finally acknowledged it.
    Climate

    But officials won’t say where it came from.

    By Umair Irfan

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